Pubdate: Sun, 02 Feb 2014
Source: Macon Telegraph (GA)
Copyright: 2014 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.macontelegraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667
Author: David Oedel
Note: David Oedel teaches at Mercer University law school.

OPED: BLURRY POT LAWS

Blurry pot laws

Respected Georgia state Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, made a noticeable 
impact in Georgia's legislative session by switching his tune on 
medical marijuana. Last Tuesday, Peake unexpectedly joined more than 
85 House members in co-filing a legalization bill in Georgia's 
General Assembly known as Haleigh's Hope Act, which is House Bill 855.

Why would Peake switch? He was touched in part by Haleigh Cox, a 
4-year-old girl from Forsyth. Haleigh is severely afflicted by 
drug-resistant seizures and related maladies. Her parents hope 
medical marijuana can give her welcome relief. There's some reason to 
think it might.

Aside from relying on Haleigh's parents' and a few similar parents' 
anecdotal, heart-rending stories of desperation, Peake also defended 
his decision by referring to a survey he did on his website in which 
he openly quizzed about whether medical marijuana should be 
legalized. More than 2,000 responded, and 95 percent, according to 
Peake, advocated legalization.

Were the responders mostly advocates for kids afflicted with seizure 
disorders or maybe just a random sampling? Neither, it appears. Peake 
admits that 73 percent of his responders supported full recreational 
use. Random surveys of advocates for seizure sufferers, or of Peake's 
typical constituents, probably would not find 73 percent in favor of 
unlimited recreational pot use.

The public seems to think that we already have enough slackers and 
layabouts without opening more pipelines to Pota-ritaville. Peake's 
survey appears to have been an unexpected opportunity for 
recreational pot smokers to blow smoke in and around the Gold Dome.

Peake is adamant that the bill will draw the line against 
recreational use and restrict use to pill form, but the drums are 
already beating for broader legalization. As respected as he is, 
Peake may find it hard to maintain those lines.

Mercer professor and doctor Richard L. Elliott immediately used the 
occasion publicly to "ask whether it is time simply to legalize 
marijuana (and) recognize that, compared with alcohol, it is less 
addictive and carries fewer medical risks." Sooner or later, that 
argument is going to get pushed hard.

Assertions like Elliott's that are based on dubious science stick in 
my craw. As long as we're allowing anecdotal evidence into the 
debate, here's my contribution.

My eldest son, Spencer, died from a meth overdose. His gateway drug 
at about 14 was marijuana. Sure, there were many other factors. But 
one or two "responsible" authorities in his life pooh-poohed his 
marijuana use. Emboldened, Spencer went on to cocaine. Then he had a 
cocaine overdose that nearly killed him. After more than a year in 
residential drug rehab, meth finished him off.

So much for any deference in my household to the fatal deceit that 
marijuana is harmless. You can well imagine that my first instinct 
about House Bill 855 was to oppose it instinctively out of a sense of 
obligation to other Spencers.

My additional research into the question suggests, though, that there 
could be usefulness in studying marijuana's complex properties more 
carefully, and giving some distillates of it to people like Haleigh, 
or maybe even the entire 200-or-so ingredients in some circumstances 
to some people.

Unfortunately, the science on this drug is surprisingly undeveloped. 
One important reason is that the federal government has it classified 
as a Class I drug with no medical benefits. If you're a medical 
researcher casting about for your next project, there's little reason 
to pick for study a substance that's federally taboo.

President Obama isn't enforcing that law, but the law remains 
unchanged, leaving legal ambiguity and a scientific black hole. It's 
another instance of Obama's unconstitutional, unilateral disrespect 
for Congress, and pot-friendly states' disrespect for federal law. 
Both approaches are unhealthy.

One practical suggestion is for Congress to reduce marijuana from 
Class I to Class II status to enable research into marijuana's 
potential usefulness. States could then cautiously, but lawfully, 
experiment until we know more.

Does Georgia need House Bill 855? Haleigh's family appears perfectly 
capable of taking Haleigh to one of 20 states that permit medical 
marijuana use.

Modest interstate travel is manageable for most families. Logical 
extensions of House Bill 855 may not be survivable for others.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom